Memo: Commission advises that the lifting of ‘duty-free’ liquid restrictions be deferred

Vice-President of the Commission, Siim Kallas, responsible for transport, is advising EU Member States to defer for a limited period the removal of restrictions on the carriage of duty free liquids in hand luggage, originally due on 29 April 2011. In recent days, a growing number of Member States decided to maintain the ban on carrying duty free liquids purchased in third countries beyond this date. The Commission advice is issued in order to avoid a situation which would not have facilitated travel but rather caused confusion for passengers. The Commission will conduct a review of the situation together with Member States and consult with the United States as one of the key destinations of flights from the EU.